Support post for glass

ABSTRACT

A support post for glass has an elongated plate member having an elongated center groove therethrough extending from a point near a proximal end to a point near a distal end and adapted to have the sheet of glass pass therethrough. A pair of clamping pad members attached to the plate member on opposite sides of the groove and adapted to hold the sheet of glass therebetween, and a base portion including a pair of blocks adapted to securely clamp the proximal end of the plate member therebetween. Each of the block having at least one hole therethrough adapted to allow fasteners to attach the pair of blocks to a supporting surface and thereby the support post to the supporting surface.

This application claims priority based on request GB1403506.7 filed Feb. 27, 2014

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a support post but more particularly to a support post for glass partitioning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fences, balconies, railings and partitions in glass are trendy and increasing in popularity as can be seen in homes, pools, airports, stairways and shopping malls. Currently these glass partitions need to be assembled and installed professionally as the glass sheets often need to be precut and holes drilled for installation with the posts that support them. There hence exists a need for an easier method of installing glass partitioning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main advantage of this invention to provide for a support post for glass partitioning that supports glass sheets through a central longitudinal slot or opening provided on its body.

It is another advantage of this invention that the post comprise of a pair of support pads on either side of the opening that can be adjusted via a screw type mechanism to hold a sheet of glass or other material firmly inside the opening.

It is a further advantage of this invention that it has a base that is mountable to a floor or wall using screws and nuts.

It is yet another advantage of this invention to provide for a way to install the glass (or any other material) without the need to make holes through it.

It is still another advantage to allow for the post to have different shapes (such as curved) as well as being used in staircases.

In order to do so, the invention comprises an elongated plate member having an elongated center groove therethrough extending from a point near a proximal end to a point near a distal end and adapted to have the sheet of glass pass therethrough. A pair of clamping pad members attached to the plate member on opposite sides of the groove and adapted to hold the sheet of glass therebetween, and a base portion including a pair of blocks adapted to securely clamp the proximal end of the plate member therebetween. Each of the block having at least one hole therethrough adapted to allow fasteners to attach the pair of blocks to a supporting surface and thereby the support post to the supporting surface.

Each of the clamping pad members comprises a support member securely attached perpendicularly to the plate member, and a threaded mechanism adjustably attached perpendicularly to the support member and including a pad on a distal portion thereof adapted to securely press against and hold the sheet of glass, and wherein the clamping pad members are situated such that both pads face each other and are adapted to securely hold the sheet of glass therebetween.

The pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using at least one screw member therebetween and at least one pair of spacer members placed on opposite sides of and adjacent to the plate member.

The support post further includes a fastener for each the hole in each of the block, wherein the fasteners are chosen from a group of fasteners comprising bolts and screws.

The pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using two screw members and two pairs of spacers therebetween.

The block has two holes therethrough that are adapted to allow fasteners to attach the block to a supporting surface and thereby the support post to the supporting surface.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Isometric view of the invention in context of use.

FIG. 2 Isometric view of the invention.

FIGS. 3 a-h Top, bottom, front side and cutaway views of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A support post (10) comprising of an elongated plate member (14) having a center groove (16) through which a sheet of glass (12) is held using a pair of clamping pad members (30) situated on either side of the groove (16) on the elongated plate (14). The elongated plate member (14) is attached to a base portion (18) comprising of a pair of blocks (20) that clamp the elongated plate member (14) within, using screw members (22) and spacer members (15). The base portion (18) has holes (23) through which the support post (10) can be attached to a floor (not shown) or wall (not shown) using mechanical fasteners (24) such as bolts or screws, for example.

The clamping pads (30) are comprised of pad portions (31) mounted through support members (26) and adjusted using a threaded mechanism (28). The support post (10) is affixed to the floor (not shown) using the mechanical fasteners (24) via its base portion (18), and a sheet of glass (12) is inserted into the center groove (16) where it is held by the clamping pads (30) that are adjusted to hold the sheet of glass (12) firmly using the screw type mechanism (28) on the supports (26). A bottom cradle (32) support the glass (12) from the bottom. It is adjustable in height so that a sheet of glass (12) can have a wide range of bottom clearance. 

1. A support post for holding a sheet of glass, said support post comprising an elongated plate member having an elongated center groove therethrough extending from a point near a proximal end to a point near a distal end and adapted to have said sheet of glass pass therethrough; a pair of clamping pad members attached to said plate member on opposite sides of said groove and adapted to hold said sheet of glass therebetween; and a base portion including a pair of blocks adapted to securely clamp said proximal end of said plate member therebetween, each said block having at least one hole therethrough adapted to allow fasteners to attach said pair of blocks to a supporting surface and thereby said support post to said supporting surface.
 2. The support post of claim 1, wherein each of said clamping pad members comprises a support member securely attached perpendicularly to said plate member; and a threaded mechanism adjustably attached perpendicularly to said support member and including a pad on a distal portion thereof adapted to securely press against and hold said sheet of glass; and wherein said clamping pad members are situated such that both pads face each other and are adapted to securely hold said sheet of glass therebetween.
 3. The support post of claim 1, wherein said pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using at least one screw member therebetween and at least one pair of spacer members placed on opposite sides of and adjacent to said plate member.
 4. The support post of claim 1, further including a fastener for each said hole in each said block, wherein said fasteners are chosen from a group of fasteners comprising bolts and screws.
 5. The support post of claim 3, wherein said pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using two screw members and two pairs of spacers therebetween.
 6. The support post of claim 1, wherein each said block has two holes therethrough that are adapted to allow fasteners to attach said block to a supporting surface and thereby said support post to said supporting surface.
 7. The support post of claim 1, wherein a height adjustable bottom cradle supports the glass from the bottom.
 8. An improved glass partition comprising: a. at least two support posts adapted to holding a sheet of glass therebetween, wherein each support post comprises an elongated plate member having an elongated center groove therethrough extending from a point near a proximal end to a point near a distal end and adapted to have said sheet of glass pass therethrough; a pair of clamping pad members attached to said plate member on opposite sides of said groove and adapted to hold said sheet of glass therebetween; and a base portion including a pair of blocks adapted to securely clamp said proximal end of said plate member therebetween, each said block having at least one hole therethrough adapted to allow fasteners to attach said pair of blocks to a supporting surface and thereby said support post to said supporting surface; and b. a sheet of glass sized and shaped to fit within said center grooves of said at least two support posts, such that said sheet of glass is adapted be securely held perpendicularly to said supporting surface.
 9. The support post of claim 8, wherein each of said clamping pad members comprises a support member securely attached perpendicularly to said plate member; and a threaded mechanism adjustably attached perpendicularly to said support member and including a pad on a distal portion thereof adapted to securely press against and hold said sheet of glass; and wherein said clamping pad members are situated such that both pads face each other and are adapted to securely hold said sheet of glass therebetween.
 10. The support post of claim 8, wherein said pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using at least one screw member therebetween and at least one pair of spacer members placed on opposite sides of and adjacent to said plate member.
 11. The support post of claim 8, further including a fastener for each said hole in each said block, wherein said fasteners are chosen from a group of fasteners comprising bolts and screws.
 12. The support post of claim 10, wherein said pair of blocks are forced toward one another and held in place using two screw members and two pairs of spacers therebetween.
 13. The support post of claim 8, wherein each said block has two holes therethrough that are adapted to allow fasteners to attach said block to a supporting surface and thereby said support post to said supporting surface.
 14. The support post of claim 8, wherein a height adjustable bottom cradle supports the glass from the bottom. 